Two Lightweight Division fights for the upcoming PRIDE SHOCKWAVE 2006, to be held at Saitama Super Arena on December 31st, have been finalized. These cards will take the fans back to the roots of mixed martial arts as the fighters battle in matches fitting of New Year's Eve to decide who is truly the strongest.

Two fights that Lightweight Division fans have been waiting for have finally been finalized! American Gilbert Melendez will go head-to-head with the pride of Japan, "Crusher" Kawajiri. Kawajiri has fought and won four fights this year. With the exception of his disqualification win over Joachim Hansen, he has used his overwhelming power to win each of these fights by knockout. He has put on more muscle and gained more power, in addition to improving his grappling and striking. Kawajiri is getting his body ready for a possible challenge against Lightweight Champion Takanori Gomi in the Lightweight Grand Prix rumored to be held next year. Melendez, on the other hand, has exactly the same goal and this card will have a big effect on the front line of next year's war in the Lightweight Division. Don't miss what may turn out to be the best bout of this year's New Year's Eve event.

This is another big card for mixed martial arts fans. In April, Joachim Hansen confirmed his spot as the foreign ace of the lightweight Division with his knockout victory over Luiz Azeredo in April of this year. Taking him on will be fan favorite Shinya Aoki, a grappler guaranteed to give an exciting fight. Aoki asked to fight Melendez at the November 5th BUSHIDO but the truth is that a match with Hansen will be more interesting because Hansen was originally billed as a grappler representing Northern Europe. Which fighter will be able to submit his opponent? Lacking nothing when compared to the Kawajiri VS Melendez match, this will be a fight that fans won't be able to take their eyes away from for even a second.